A St. John man filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, claiming he was badly hurt at a game in June 2007 when fans rushed to snatch a promotional T-shirt fired from a cannon into the stands.

David Babusiak's back was hurt by rushing fans in the box seats along the first base line, his attorney David Holub said.

"I think it's a fairly serious injury," Holub said.

White Sox spokesman Lou Hernandez said team officials had not seen the suit Thursday. Hernandez said he believed the T-shirts are usually tossed, not fired from a cannon. Sox games are safe, Hernandez said.

"We certainly go above and beyond to make sure it's a safe environment for all of our fans," Hernandez said.

Babusiak and his wife, Catherine, are suing the team, U.S. Cellular Field and the White Sox Chevrolet Pride Crew in Hammond federal court.

The lawsuit claims the Babusiaks were in the stands as the Sox played the Houston Astros on June 8, 2007. David Babusiak was near his seat when a member of the Chevrolet Pride Crew used a "projectile cannon" to shoot a T-shirt near the plaintiff. The crowd knocked David Babusiak down, and the fall caused "severe injury," according to the suit.